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Loot by Aaron Elkins
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Loot (original 1999; edition 1999)

by Aaron Elkins

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2545106,159 (3.59)12
A long-lost painting stolen by the Nazis turns up at a Boston pawnshop--and leads to a string of murders--in this "fast-paced and tightly written thriller" (The Seattle Times).   In April 1945, the Nazis, reeling and near defeat, frantically work to hide the huge store of art treasures that Hitler has looted from Europe. Truck convoys loaded with the cultural wealth of the Western world pour in an unending stream into the compound of the vast Altaussee salt mine high in the Austrian Alps. But with the Allies closing in, the vaunted efficiency of the Nazis has broken down. At Altaussee, all is tumult and confusion. In the commotion, a single truck, its driver, and its priceless load of masterpieces vanish into a mountain snowstorm. Half a century later, in a seedy Boston pawnshop, ex‑curator Ben Revere makes a stunning discovery among the piles of junk: a Velazquez from the legendary Lost Truck. But with it come decades of secrets, rancor, and lies, and the few who know of the painting's existence have their lives snuffed out one by one by an unknown assassin. Revere must travel back to the grand cities of Europe to unravel the tangled history of the lost truck and its treasures before fifty years of hatred, greed, and retribution catch up with him.… (more)
Member:cazompey
Title:Loot
Authors:Aaron Elkins
Info:Avon (1999), Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages
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Loot by Aaron Elkins (1999)

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Showing 5 of 5
Sometimes I just need to read a fun little thriller about lost treasure set in exotic locales, and Aaron Elkins' Loot was perfect-- especially since I've read books about the incredible work done by the Monuments Men during World War II. I've often wondered just how many stolen treasures are still hiding deep in mines and other hideaways, but I digress.

This isn't the first book I've read written by Elkins. He seems to have a knack for choosing topics that I'm deeply interested in, but I can't say that I'm a fan of his writing. Loot suffers from an unnecessary love interest and a hero who's more than a little dense when it comes to the safety of himself and others, but the book's fast pace and interesting premise kept me reading happily until the end. ( )
  cathyskye | Jul 9, 2023 |
Interesting locales, WW2 aftermath, with some promising new protagonists make Elkins trip to Europe into a worthwhile read. ( )
  jamespurcell | Aug 11, 2016 |
I had a difficult time making myself go through the first few chapters. I've been so used to the Gideon Oliver series that the change in pace and perspective threw me off a but. First of all, art aficiaonado I am not. As such, I didn't think I'd be able to identify as much with the character and his love of paintings. Nevertheless, I'm glad I made myself go through the first part of the book which was really setting up the whole plot. It starts getting more fast-paced in the middle and although the art references flew over my head more often than not, it did get interesting and the twists were a surprise. ( )
  marichu77 | May 13, 2008 |
Timely work covering Holocaust victims' loss of works of art and other treasures to plundering Germans and Russians. Good characters, well written. ( )
  meerka | Jul 16, 2007 |
Art stolen by Nazis. Pawn shop man killed. Ben Revere, ex-curator, discovers a Velazquez. Goes to Europe, Austria; to learn about the "lost truck" of stolen art. Also a love story. ( )
  UPMarta | Dec 27, 2007 |
Showing 5 of 5
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A long-lost painting stolen by the Nazis turns up at a Boston pawnshop--and leads to a string of murders--in this "fast-paced and tightly written thriller" (The Seattle Times).   In April 1945, the Nazis, reeling and near defeat, frantically work to hide the huge store of art treasures that Hitler has looted from Europe. Truck convoys loaded with the cultural wealth of the Western world pour in an unending stream into the compound of the vast Altaussee salt mine high in the Austrian Alps. But with the Allies closing in, the vaunted efficiency of the Nazis has broken down. At Altaussee, all is tumult and confusion. In the commotion, a single truck, its driver, and its priceless load of masterpieces vanish into a mountain snowstorm. Half a century later, in a seedy Boston pawnshop, ex‑curator Ben Revere makes a stunning discovery among the piles of junk: a Velazquez from the legendary Lost Truck. But with it come decades of secrets, rancor, and lies, and the few who know of the painting's existence have their lives snuffed out one by one by an unknown assassin. Revere must travel back to the grand cities of Europe to unravel the tangled history of the lost truck and its treasures before fifty years of hatred, greed, and retribution catch up with him.

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